Music and book holder



(No Model.)

W. J. HAMMER.

MUSIC AND BOOK HOLDER.

Patented May 17, 1887.

Vi; IINIESSES I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. HAMMER, or oHERRY GROVE, onio.

MUSIC AND BGOK HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,228, dated May 1'7, 188l7f Application filed August 2], 1886. Serial No. 211,523. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. HAMMER,

of Cherry Grove, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Music and Book Holders, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved music and book holder, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one member of the device detached.

This invention relates to an improvement in music and book holders, consisting of segmental-shaped metal clasps having forwardly projecting wire arms hinged to a common transverse piece, around which is wrapped a spring, the opposite ends of which connect with the forwardly-projecting handles of the arms, and also in protecting the clasps and one of the handles with tubular rubber, so that the books are protected from wear and tear by the use of the device, all of which will now be fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a pairof concave segmental clasps or holders, and so disposed that the ends B come in contact with each other. Near the center of each of these pieces I provide forwardlyprojecting arms 0, the said arms bent at right angles D, a short distance from the holders A, toward a central transverse piece, E, making nearly two complete circles, F, around this central transverse piece, thence forward outwardly, with the sides G nearly parallel with the sides D to about the same length, thence again forwardly at right angles, as shown at H, and thence across the front part of the device, as shown at I, forming handles.

Fig. 2 represents one of the members with the holder A detached from the device. This part (shown in Fig. 2) represents one-half of the device, and is simply a duplicate of the upper part, except that the upper arms that clasp the rod- E are made somewhat narrower, in order to be accommodated upon the said transverse piece E.

Around the transverse piece E, I provide a spiral-wire spring, J, with one of the ends, K, projecting rearwardly and connected to a loop, L, centrally in the handle of the part I, while the other end, M, extends rearwardly and is connected to the loop N of the other handle. This coiled-wire spring and ends K-and M are at a tension, so as to deflect or spread apart the ends I from each other. This brings the ends B of the two holders A in close contact, so that a book or magazine placed between them will be held rigidly in position. By simply pressing the parts I of the handles together the jaws or holders A may be opened for the insertion of the book, as desired, and by releasing the hold upon the handles the spring J will secure the book in position. Upon the ends B of the upper holder, A, I provide rubber tubing 0, while the lower holder is entirely incased within the said rubber tubing, as well as the lower part of the handle, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus the book within the holder is prevented from becoming torn or defaced, while the part of the holder that rests upon the desk or table is also protected from scratches by the corresponding rubber tube upon it.

I am aware that spring-actuated devices and page-holding arms having rubber or other pads on the under surface have been used before for holding a book open.

Having described myinvention,what I claim as new is- 1. In a book-holder, a pair of concave segmental clasps or holders, A,coming in contact at their ends B, said ends being provided with rubber. tubing 0, combined with a pair of spring-actuated and forwardly-proj ecting handles, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the holders A, having forwardly-projecting arms 0 and H, pro vided with angled sides G and D, and loops F, bent so as to encircle and be hinged on a central transverse piecehaving a spiral spring, J, so disposed as to spread apart the forward ends of the handles,.substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combination of the wired segmental holders A, the arms 0, connected thereto and extending to form the angled sides G and D and handles I, and provided with the loops F, L, and N, and the springs J, upon the rod E, the ends of which extend to and act upon said handles, the whole constructed and combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of April, 1886, in the presence of witnesses.

WILLIAM J .-HAMMER.

-Witnesses:

W. O. J OHNSON, J F. JOHNSON. 

